Dr. Joren Cain is this year’s recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award for the VSU Department of Music.  He is one of the most active faculty in the Department with a heavy teaching load, strong advising and committee work across the department and campus, and a remarkable research agenda and accomplishments from last year.

Last year he received approvals for three articles in the leading national publication in the Jazz arena.  In addition to his publications, he performed two faculty recitals, completed three new arrangements, gave over ten major performances around the region and nation, and recorded all 24 GMEA All-State Saxophone Etudes for last year which he made available to students on YouTube.

He was invited through juried selection to give a lecture at the North American Saxophone Alliance conference in April titled: “Developing a Jazz Concept” and also performed a closing recital at the same conference of “In Transit” by Mischa Zupko. He hosted the 2nd Annual Saxophone Quartet workshop at VSU with a record attendance of 33 high school students.

Based on his growing national presence and stature as a saxophone teacher and performer of note, VSU has been selected to host the NASA conference in March of 2017, which will bring saxophonists from around the world to the Valdosta State University campus.